Public safety agencies across the United States will deploy drones to spot illegal fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations, thanks to new federal rules that accelerated drone-based enforcement.
Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) loosened regulations, allowing cities and counties to launch Drone as First Responder (DFR) initiatives more quickly by cutting bureaucratic red tape. That change led to an increase in the number of policing organizations implementing DFR programs, jumping from 50 to an estimated 1,500 nationwide. The rapid expansion reflects how drone-based enforcement has become a national trend, not only for monitoring illegal fireworks but also for emergency response, crowd management, and search-and-rescue operations.
While some cities have used drones to monitor fireworks for years, this is the first July 4th holiday where aerial enforcement is widespread.
California has been one of the most aggressive adopters, largely because of the extreme risk of wildfires and the prevalence of illegal pyrotechnics. Several cities, including San Jose, Sacramento, and Riverside, are deploying aerial enforcement units specifically to monitor fireworks this holiday weekend. Other western states with similar wildfire risks, including Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, have also adopted unmanned aircraft operations teams. First responders say drones help them detect and respond to fires quickly, especially in wooded areas and during the dry summer months.
The Wheat Ridge Police Department in Colorado has relied on drones to monitor illegal fireworks since 2024, and the Riverside Police Department began using them last year. The drones can capture footage to be used for citations and prosecutions, according to a spokesman.
“This has been a spectacular tool for us to identify those who obviously make the decision to not follow the rules and be unsafe,” Det. Steven Espinosa, public information officer for the Riverside PD, told the Los Angeles Times.
The growing use of DFR programs has raised some privacy concerns, but law enforcement says the technology is deployed only in response to specific calls, not for general surveillance. With thousands of law enforcement agencies now equipped with drones, this year’s Fourth of July could mark a turning point in how cities enforce fireworks laws and how Americans celebrate the holiday.

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This Fourth of July, The Sky May Be Watching Back

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A Somali flag that Buffalo, New York, city officials raised in Niagara Square earlier this week to celebrate the foreign country&#8217;s independence was cut down in the dead of night on Wednesday. The flag robbery took place one day after city officials canceled Buffalo&#8217;s Fourth of July fireworks celebration.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan said &#8220;unknown vandals&#8221; removed the Somali flag at some point late on Wednesday night, <a href="https://www.btpm.org/local/2026-07-02/somali-flag-cut-down-and-stolen-from-niagara-square-amid-city-fireworks-outrage">according</a> to Buffalo-Toronto Public Media. Ryan added that the Buffalo Police Department is investigating the incident. The Somali flag has been raised in Niagara Square for the past four years on July 1 to celebrate Somali Independence Day.
“Buffalo is a proud, diverse city, and our administration remains committed to honoring and celebrating the many cultures that make our community stronger,” Ryan added.
The Somali flag-raising has stirred controversy in the city, especially since it falls so close to the Fourth of July and the celebration of America&#8217;s 250th anniversary. As they raised the Somali flag in the city square, Buffalo city officials were also blasted for scrapping the Fourth of July fireworks celebration.
&#8220;City Hall canceled its downtown fireworks display, leaving Buffalo as one of the only cities in Western New York without a public Fourth of July celebration, and instead raised the flag of Somalia outside City Hall,&#8221; Erie County, New York, GOP Chairman Michael Kracker said. &#8220;No one is questioning the contributions of Buffalo&#8217;s immigrant communities. But this week belongs to all of us, as Americans.&#8221;
Mayor Ryan announced in early June that the city planned to revive its patriotic fireworks display for America&#8217;s 250th birthday. Buffalo hasn&#8217;t put on a Fourth of July fireworks show in decades as the city focuses on a big New Year&#8217;s Eve fireworks display. This week, however, Ryan said the patriotic show wouldn&#8217;t take place.
&#8220;After exploring potential locations, an appropriate site could not be identified that would provide a safe and widely accessible viewing experience for residents. As a result, the City will not be hosting a downtown fireworks display this year,&#8221; he said.
Buffalo isn&#8217;t the only American city to raise the Somali flag on government property to celebrate the foreign country. Columbus, Ohio, which is home to the second-largest concentration of Somalis in the United States, also announced that it would hoist the Somali flag on July 1, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/on-americas-250th-red-states-capital-city-flies-somali-flag?author=Luke+Rosiak&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=On+America%E2%80%99s+250th%2C+Red+State%E2%80%99s+Capital+City+Celebrates%E2%80%A6+Somalia">reported</a>.
The Columbus Parks and Rec Department deleted the post announcing the Somali flag raising moments after The Daily Wire asked about it.

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Patriots Rip Down Somali Flag In American City Square After Officials Cancel July 4 Fireworks

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President Donald Trump&#8217;s promise to host the largest Independence Day fireworks display in American history has apparently sparked a new concern from the legacy media: fireworks smoke.
Just days before Americans gather in the nation&#8217;s capital to celebrate the country&#8217;s 250th anniversary festivities, The Washington Post published a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/07/01/july-fourth-fireworks-likely-cause-hazardous-air-pollution-documents-show/">report</a> warning that the massive pyrotechnic display planned for July 4 could create &#8220;hazardous levels of pollution&#8221; and &#8220;very unhealthy&#8221; air quality around the National Mall.
The newspaper cited internal National Park Service documents projecting elevated levels of fine particulate matter — known as PM2.5 — for several hours after the approximately 40-minute fireworks show concludes.
The Post focused primarily on the smoke the display is expected to generate. According to the outlet, draft National Park Service modeling predicts particulate matter concentrations between 600 and 1,200 micrograms per cubic meter in the most likely scenario, with a worst-case projection exceeding 2,000 micrograms depending on weather conditions.
The paper reported that attendees should &#8220;avoid prolonged exposure&#8221; to the smoke and highlighted recommendations that people wear N95 masks outdoors and remain indoors as much as possible during and after the fireworks show.
Yet buried within the report is an admission that undercuts much of its alarm. The Post acknowledges that projected pollution levels of up to 1,200 micrograms per cubic meter &#8220;match what have been recorded with other fireworks events.&#8221;
In other words, the National Park Service&#8217;s own projections indicate the expected pollution levels are consistent with what has previously been measured during large fireworks displays, even as the newspaper frames this year&#8217;s celebration as a significant public health concern.
The Washington Post article also quotes New York University professor George Thurston, who recommended that people use &#8220;the precautionary principle&#8221; by minimizing exposure and suggested that &#8220;an N95 mask would be a good idea.&#8221;
The celebration, dubbed &#8220;Salute to America,&#8221; is expected to feature roughly 850,000 fireworks launched from multiple locations around Washington, D.C., alongside military flyovers, live musical performances, and remarks from President Trump. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has described the display as a &#8220;must-see event,&#8221; while Trump has touted it as the largest fireworks show in American history.
&#8220;The Fourth of July Airshow, over Washington, D.C., our Great Capital, will be the biggest, by far, in the History of the United States of America,&#8221; Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this week.
&#8220;Hundreds of Planes, of different types, sizes, and speeds, will be on display. &#8230; I will be speaking at approximately 9 P.M., preceding the Fireworks which again, like the Airshow, will be approximately ten times larger than any Fireworks in the History of our Country.&#8221;
The Post further highlighted internal agency guidance stating pollution could remain elevated for three to six hours after the show and even ventured into environmental justice concerns.
One internal Park Service document reportedly instructed staff to &#8220;not treat race, ethnicity, income, disability, age, or language as risks by themselves,&#8221; while noting that some predominantly black and lower-income neighborhoods are located near the fireworks sites.
The coverage was quickly echoed by <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/disturbing-reality-of-donald-trumps-huge-july-4-fireworks-display-exposed/">The Daily Beast</a>, which similarly warned readers that Trump&#8217;s fireworks show would create &#8220;hazardous levels of pollution&#8221; and emphasized recommendations for masks and limiting outdoor exposure.
The outlet also spotlighted concerns over summer heat and security restrictions surrounding the event while noting White House hopes for a large turnout after Trump&#8217;s kickoff rally for the America 250 celebration.
Trump, meanwhile, has encouraged Americans to attend what he has called an unprecedented patriotic celebration. &#8220;So, if you like Airplanes and Fireworks and President Trump, be there!&#8221; the president wrote.

Fireworks on the Fourth of July, Washington, D.C.

Washington Post Panics Over Trump’s July Fourth Fireworks: ‘Wear An N95 Mask’

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Washington Post

As America gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, one leftist city reminded residents that sparklers are illegal and said anyone defying the ban should be reported to the authorities. 
City officials in Alexandria, Virginia, posted an announcement on Wednesday, declaring that it is illegal to set off fireworks or light sparklers within the city and asked for its residents to call authorities if they witnessed any illegal patriotic celebrations. Alexandria is located about 10 miles away from Mount Vernon, the home of President and General George Washington. 
“Fireworks are illegal in Alexandria, including sparklers. Report illegal fireworks by calling 311. Our show is next weekend,” the city posted on social media. 
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Fireworks are illegal in Alexandria, including sparklers. Report illegal fireworks by calling 311. Our show is next weekend. Join us for the City Birthday celebration on July 11 at Oronoco Bay Park. Free admission. More info at <a href="https://t.co/De5QV2xucz">https://t.co/De5QV2xucz</a>. <a href="https://t.co/QP6nEwynmS">pic.twitter.com/QP6nEwynmS</a>
— AlexandriaVAGov (@AlexandriaVAGov) <a href="https://x.com/AlexandriaVAGov/status/2072364388858695705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
According to the Alexandria Fire Department, it is even illegal to store fireworks or sparklers within the city limits. People caught with fireworks can be fined up to $2,500 and face up to a year in jail. 
“Fireworks are illegal in Alexandria. It is against the law to buy, sell, store, or use any fireworks inside the City, including sparklers and novelty items. This applies even if the fireworks were legal to buy in nearby counties or cities,” the fire department <a href="https://www.alexandriava.gov/news-afd/2026-06-29/alexandria-fire-department-reminds-community-that-fireworks-are-dangerous-and">posted</a> in May.  
The fire department claimed that sparklers “are not safe” and that “nearly half (46%) of people burned by fireworks last year were burned by a sparkler.” Other Democrat-run cities like Chicago and New York City also have sparkler bans in place. 
Conservative commentators reacted to the call to report illegal sparkler use with scorn. 
“Welcome to Virginia, where the government wants to eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing for rape, child pornography distribution, and armed robbery — but encourages neighbors to snitch on each other for ‘illegal sparklers’ on the 4th of July,” <a href="https://x.com/theisabelb/status/2072655258640167162">said</a> Daily Wire host Isabel Brown.
“In Alexandria, Virginia, they want you to rat out your neighbors for their fireworks but will fight to their last breath to protect illegal aliens,” said Republican consultant Tim Murtaugh.
Former Virginia Republican attorney general Jason Miyares said, &#8220;This is just flat Un-American.&#8221;
Alexandria is known for its far-Left politics with rainbow colored “Pride” crosswalks painted across the streets in the city’s historic Old Town section and officials&#8217; condemnation of federal immigration enforcement. 
Since Alexandria will not have its fireworks display until July 11, patriotic residents could cross over the Potomac River and attend President Donald Trump’s fireworks display on the Fourth, which he has said will be the “largest firework show in history.” 
America’s Founding Fathers wanted celebrations of the country’s independence to include fireworks, with John Adams once writing that independence should be commemorated with “bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”

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Leftist Enclave Asks Residents To Report ‘Illegal’ Sparkler Celebrations During America 250

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Residents in a Southern California neighborhood say their homeowners association is threatening to fine them unless they remove American flags displayed outside their homes, sparking outrage as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
Terri Collins and neighbors Amy and Chris Cooke, who live in San Marcos in San Diego County, said their HOA warned they could face a $100 fine if they continued flying American flags outside of their homes. 
“I’m not taking my flag down,” Terri said. “They can fine me, $100, $200, $1,000, I’m not paying it.”
Terri said she has flown the Stars and Stripes for 35 years and described the neighborhood as very patriotic because it is near the former Miramar Navy Air Station, the original home of the Navy&#8217;s TOPGUN school, adding, “all the Top Gun pilots lived here.”
The homeowners said the Ambiance Owners’ Association has enforced these rules ever since President Donald Trump&#8217;s 2024 election. According to the neighbors, several residents crumbled under pressure to take down their flags after receiving warning letters from the HOA. 
“Once the members allow use of a common property by an owner to express what is essentially a political or affiliative view in a flag, other owners will want to do the same and the common area will degrade,” a letter from the HOA board stated before the 2024 election. 
The HOA told homeowners they could display flags only in “exclusive use” areas, such as backyards, while front-facing common areas were off limits. The Cookes said their $100 fine stemmed from the size and placement of their flag. 
Congress passed the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/42">Freedom to Display the American Flag Act</a> in 2005, which generally prevents HOAs from banning residents from displaying the American flag while allowing restrictions on how it is displayed, including the size, placement, and type of flagpole. 
Michael Kushner, an HOA attorney from Aliso Viejo, said “the law is crystal clear,” adding that the HOA is “barking up the wrong tree.” 
“I would tell these people to stand firm and under no circumstances should they remove that flag,” he said. HOAs “count on the fact that homeowners don’t know better and might be scared.”
“We are outraged, if you want to fly your flag fly it, this is America,” Amy Cooke, a 62-year-old visitation supervisor for children, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/28/us-news/patriotic-californians-explode-at-hoas-crazy-anti-american-demand-ahead-of-fourth-of-july/">told</a> the California Post. “We are the land of the free and home of the brave, this is crazy.”
The Cookes said they have flown their flag for more than 20 years to honor Chris&#8217; grandfather, Alexander Christie, a Navy sailor who was killed aboard the USS Princeton during World War II while attempting to rescue fellow sailors in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Christie received the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross.
The Cookes secured a 15-minute Zoom call with the HOA board on Tuesday. If the board doesn’t back down, they said they plan to take legal action. 
“We’ve never sued anyone in our life. We’re just here to fly our flag and be left alone,” Chris said. “There’s enough division, we shouldn’t have to do this, but we don’t want to be pushed into submission.”
California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton also responded to the HOA’s stance. 
&#8220;I hope everyone in that neighborhood not only ignores their HOA but doubles and trebles the number of American flags they display on this very special anniversary for our nation,” he said.
The Cookes and Terri are still planning to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, despite the dispute. 
“There’s a significant difference between some random flag for whatever you support and the American flag, the symbol of our country,” Amy said. “It’s not just a flag. It’s a symbol.”

Homeowners Outraged After HOA Demands American Flags Come Down

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Twenty-five years ago, it didn&#8217;t matter if you were red, white, blue, black, gold, or purple. On July Fourth, our nation&#8217;s birthday, Republicans and Democrats both showed up for the party.
Not anymore.
In 2026, we can&#8217;t agree on the color orange, whether water is wet, or what the American flag even stands for. And the polling proves it. Sixty-four percent of Republicans will display the American flag on July Fourth. Democrats? Twenty-seven percent.
Back in 2001 — before the towers fell, before the culture war went nuclear — Democrats and Republicans were nearly identical in how proud they were to call themselves Americans. Eighty-seven percent of the country, unified, coast to coast. Then came the decades of left-wing institutional rot, and here we are: 90% of Republicans say they are proud to be American. Democrats? 29%. That is a 61-point gap between two halves of a country that used to grill out together.
Absolutely pathetic.
The Left has always been a little less enthusiastic about American symbols, but this is more than dyspepsia; this is pure contempt. More Gen Z Democrats say they have little or no pride in being an American than say they are extremely or very proud. Think about that. The party of &#8220;our democracy&#8221; has produced a generation that actively dislikes the country more than they love it.
Instead of parties this July Fourth? They&#8217;ll be hosting off-key sing-alongs, mourning deported illegal aliens, and papering their doors with rainbow stickers. Old Glory won&#8217;t make an appearance.
Here&#8217;s why that matters.
That flag proudly wears thirteen stripes for the colonies that told a king to pound sand in 1776. Fifty stars for the states bound together under a Constitution that declared rights come from the Creator — not from government. It flew over Washington, crossing the Delaware in the snow. It inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem while British rockets lit up the night over Fort McHenry. It led the charge at Normandy and planted itself on the moon.
The stars and stripes don’t represent perfection. They represent the longest-running experiment in ordered liberty the world has ever seen.
The modern Left cannot rally around any of that. Their entire worldview requires them to see America as an original sin that can never be forgiven. Slavery existed here — just as it existed on every continent for thousands of years. The difference is that the principles in that flag gave Americans the moral and legal tools to end it. The Left&#8217;s preferred history — the 1619 Project revision pushed in classrooms and newsrooms — pretends those principles never existed. It teaches children that the country was founded on oppression rather than on the radical idea that all men are created equal.
The feature, ladies and gentlemen, never the bug.
The New Left that took over universities in the 1960s and 1970s did not want to reform America. It wanted to delegitimize it. Herbert Marcuse and the critical theory crowd taught a generation that Western civilization, and America in particular, was the source of all repression. Repressive tolerance became the rule: shut down any defense of the country as “hate,” while every grievance gets a platform. Decades later, the results are in the polling.
Democrats who went through that education system now look at the flag the way a vampire looks at garlic.
They&#8217;ve been trained to see every American success as stolen and every American failure as proof the whole thing is rotten, all while living in the country with the highest living standards, the strongest military, the freest speech, and the most opportunity any large nation has ever produced. The hypocrisy writes itself.
So let them sulk. Let them treat July Fourth like a national day of mourning.
The rest of us still believe in the country that produced the Wright brothers, the polio vaccine, the internet, and the men and women who stormed beaches to liberate continents. Republicans aren’t just holding the line. We are still building. Entrepreneurs are creating jobs instead of burning buildings. Mothers are raising children instead of raising fists at the system. Young men are enlisting or starting businesses instead of majoring in resentment.
The revolutionary spirit that won independence never left the Right. It just got busy winning in the real world.
The numbers keep dividing because one side loves what America is, and the other resents what it has achieved. That isn&#8217;t a disagreement over policy. That is a fundamental rejection of the country itself.
Democrats hate the flag. We don’t.
This July Fourth, fly it anyway. Fly it high. Fly it for the people who built this place and for the ones still trying to keep it worth defending. 
The Left can keep their grievance parade. The rest of us have a country to celebrate.

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Democrats Hate The Flag That Leads The World. We Celebrate It.

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President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States would celebrate its 250th birthday with the “largest fireworks show of all time.” 
Trump said on Truth Social that he plans to host “the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all” at the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument in the nation’s capital on July 4. The event, called a “Tribute to America” will feature military bands, military flyovers, and fireworks. 
Trump said that a variety of military bands would play patriotic classics in the “largest formation of Joint Military Music and Ceremonial performances in History” and a “playlist” selected by him as well. 
“Starting at 7 P.M. EST, this HUGE Celebration will honor our Country&#8217;s People, Spirit, Strength, Resolve, and Triumphs,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “With the backdrop of the Lincoln Memorial and surrounding the beautifully new Reflecting Pool, more than 300 Members of our strong and talented Military Bands, Orchestras, and Ceremonial Units, will perform Patriotic Melodies and American Classics, and my Playlist (We will have none of those people that put you to sleep and constantly complain!), as we celebrate our Country, and Rally into the next 250 years.”
Trump said the event would include an air show featuring “incredible flyovers” and said that he would give a speech.
“To conclude the program, and commemorate this Historic Occasion, I will be launching, what will be, the LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY, right here in our Nation&#8217;s Capital. Do not miss it,” Trump added. 
The president&#8217;s promise of a historic fireworks show appeared to follow the advice of Founding Father John Adams, who once said that America&#8217;s independence should be celebrated with &#8220;bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.&#8221;
In a separate post, Trump said that the kickoff for the summer of celebrating America’s 250th anniversary would take place on June 24 with music performed by the Army and Marine Corps military bands and Lee Greenwood. He said that Air Force fighter jets and stealth bombers would fly over for the ceremony taking place on the National Mall. 
“This Patriotic Tribute will take place on the Main Stage at the Freedom 250 Great American State Fair located on our Majestic National Mall, in what is now one of the safest Cities in the World, Washington D.C., which we are beautifying to levels never seen before,” Trump said. 
Trump’s announcement of the Fourth of July celebration comes after he hosted a UFC fight at the White House punctuated by a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds.

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Trump Teases Historic Fireworks Show For Nation’s 250th Birthday

Independence Day

If you want to know what the American spirit is, don’t ask a politician.
Ask the dad coaching Little League after a 10-hour workday. Ask the single mom who prays over the dinner table even when she’s not sure how she’ll pay the light bill. Ask the soldier who salutes a flag that too many in Washington now treat like a political prop instead of a sacred symbol.
The American spirit was never about government. It was about grit, grace, and the stubborn belief that no matter who you are or where you start, you can build a life rooted in faith, family, and freedom. It’s the heartbeat of a people who crossed oceans, tilled soil they didn’t own, and risked everything for the promise of something better.
Today, that spirit feels tested — maybe more than at any time in our lifetime. We live in a country where politics has become sport, truth has become optional, and too many Americans are told that our Founding ideals are relics of oppression rather than beacons of hope. Both parties have lost sight of who they work for. Both Democrats and Republicans “govern” like it’s a game or street fight. Somewhere between strategy and survival, the people get forgotten.
I’ll say this clearly: I love America. And when you love something, you’re expected to be critical of it. If you didn’t love your kids, you wouldn’t discipline them. Love doesn’t mean silence — it means wanting the best for what you hold dear. My criticism of America isn’t born of cynicism. It’s born of conviction that we can do better because we are better.
But here’s the thing: the American spirit isn’t dead. It’s just been buried under noise. And if you listen closely — past the headlines, the outrage, and the endless finger-pointing — you can still hear it.
I heard it at a Buccaneers game this past weekend. I was still in the concession area grabbing a beer when the national anthem began. Without anyone saying a word, the entire concourse stopped. Vendors, fans, security guards — everyone froze in place. Hats came off. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. For ninety seconds, the chaos of modern life went silent, and every person stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the direction of a flag they couldn’t even see. That’s the American spirit. Not something choreographed or forced, but something instinctive. Reverence that lives deep in the bones of ordinary people.
The American spirit is defiant and hopeful all at once. It’s rebellious in the best sense of the word. Our Founders didn’t wait for permission to pursue liberty — they acted on conviction. And they didn’t do it for fame or profit. They did it because they believed that human freedom was a divine calling, not a political gift. That belief came straight from Scripture: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” That’s not just a verse — it’s the origin story of the greatest nation on Earth.
Yet somewhere along the way, we traded that conviction for comfort. We let cynicism creep in. We started looking to politicians to fix what only character can. We looked to Washington for salvation when it should have started in our own homes, churches, and communities. We forgot that self-government begins with self-discipline.
When Alexis de Tocqueville came to America nearly two centuries ago, he was astonished not by our government but by our people — by their faith, their voluntary associations, their instinct to help neighbors before the state ever arrived. That’s what made America exceptional. Not that we were richer or smarter, but that we were moral and free.
Who needs to hear this? Honestly, everyone.
The young person taught that America is something to apologize for. The middle-aged voter who’s stopped believing that anything can change. The elected official who’s forgotten that public service is a trust, not a brand. And yes, even the conservative who’s become so jaded by corruption and media manipulation that they’ve forgotten hope is a weapon too.
We need to remember that pessimism never built anything worth keeping. Hope did. Faith did. The American spirit did.
If we can define that spirit, we can reclaim it. And reclaiming it starts with three things: we return to God, we rebuild the family, and we rediscover community.
No nation can sustain freedom without virtue, and no virtue survives long without faith. Our Founders knew this. John Adams said it plainly: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” They didn’t separate church and state to erase faith from public life — they did it to protect the church from the state’s reach. Reclaiming the American spirit means bringing prayer back to dinner tables, courage back to pulpits, and humility back to our leaders.
Every cultural rot you can name — crime, addiction, confusion, despair — can be traced to the breakdown of the home. A strong nation begins with strong moms and dads who teach their children that life has purpose, that truth exists, and that love isn’t license — it’s responsibility. You can’t legislate that. You can only live it.
And the American spirit thrives in places Washington will never reach: small towns, ballfields, church pews, front porches. It’s where people still look each other in the eye and say, “How can I help?” instead of, “Who did you vote for?”
Reclaiming that isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about survival. Because when you know your neighbor, you’re less likely to hate him. When you serve your church, you’re less likely to feel hopeless. And when you live with purpose, you stop waiting for politicians to deliver meaning they were never meant to provide.
So yes, criticize the left for weaponizing victimhood. But don’t spare the right for losing moral courage. The problem isn’t just policy — it’s pride. It’s thinking we can restore the country through ballots alone without first reviving our souls.
The American spirit was born in defiance of tyranny, but it survived through obedience — to God, to conscience, to truth. It’s not red or blue — it’s red, white, and blue. And it belongs to anyone willing to live by the creed our Founders staked their lives on: that freedom is worth the fight, that virtue is worth the cost, and that faith is worth the ridicule.
We are not finished as a nation. We are being refined. And maybe that’s exactly what the American spirit has always been. Tested, but never broken; humbled, but never hopeless; faithful, even when the world mocks the faith itself.
As we stand on the eve of America’s 250th birthday, let’s take that spirit seriously. We’re a ways removed from the fireworks and speeches of July 4th, but those celebrations will come soon enough. The question is: what kind of country will we be when that day arrives? Let’s make sure that when America turns 250, she’s not limping into it — she’s standing tall, proud, and faithful. Let’s be in the best spiritual, cultural, and moral shape we’ve ever been. That would be the greatest gift we could give to the generations who will inherit her next.
Our anthem says it best: “The land of the free and the home of the brave.” Not the land of the perfect. Not the home of the comfortable. But of the brave — the men and women who choose hope over hate, sacrifice over cynicism, and God over government.
That’s the American spirit. And it’s still alive.
You just have to look around.
Because it’s us.
It’s We the People.
Gates Garcia is the host of the YouTube show and podcast “We The People.” Follow him on Instagram and X @GatesGarciaFL.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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Want To Understand The American Spirit? Don’t Ask A Politician.

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President Donald Trump signed the One Big, Beautiful Bill into law on Independence Day, meeting his self-imposed deadline for the monumental budget bill after a long legislative struggle.
Trump — who had urged Congress to pass the bill and send it to his desk by July 4 — walked out onto the South Portico of the White House with First Lady Melania Trump and stood for the national anthem and a military flyover, after which he approached the microphone to offer a few words.
&#8220;I want to wish you a very happy Independence Day, happy Fourth of July. This is gonna be something special. There&#8217;s spirit in this country, we haven&#8217;t seen anything like it in many, many years,&#8221; the president said, later mentioning Operation Midnight Hammer and the military personnel who participated in the operation to destroy Iran&#8217;s nuclear capabilities.
Trump continued, noting his administration&#8217;s successes in recent months.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IS NOW OFFICIALLY THE LAW OF THE LAND! <a href="https://t.co/mOpYN0tiZ0">pic.twitter.com/mOpYN0tiZ0</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1941253557665321187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;The American people gave us a historic mandate in November&#8230;We made promises, and it&#8217;s really promises made, promises kept. This is a triumph of democracy on the birthday of democracy,&#8221; Trump added, going on to enumerate the details of the Big, Beautiful Bill, and thanking prominent Republicans who helped get the legislation across the finish line.
&#8220;The Golden Age of America is upon us. We are in the Golden Age,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;It&#8217;s going to be a period of time the likes of which I don&#8217;t think this country has ever experienced before.&#8221;
Trump then descended the stairs, shook hands with various figures, took his pen, and — flanked by House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise — signed the Big, Beautiful Bill.
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The bill makes permanent Trump&#8217;s 2017 tax cuts, increases funding for border security, enacts work requirements for able-bodied recipients of Medicaid and food stamps, defunds Planned Parenthood for a year, funds the “Golden Dome” missile defense program, and ends taxes on tips and overtime.
The legislation was sent to Trump’s desk after being passed by both houses of Congress, where Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/big-beautiful-and-on-the-way-to-trumps-desk-congress-passes-historic-spending-bill?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=17&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Big%2C+Beautiful%2C+And+On+The+Way+To+Trump’s+Desk%3A+Congress+Passes+Historic+Spending+Bill">overcame</a> significant Democratic opposition and internal Republican hesitancy to hand the president a major legislative victory.
The Republican-controlled House voted 218-214 to pass the measure shortly after Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) wrapped up an hours-long speech delaying the bill’s advancement. To reach the final vote, Johnson spent hours working with Republican holdouts to get them to back the measure.
The Senate vote was even closer, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
Following the bill&#8217;s passage on July 3, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-will-sign-one-big-beautiful-bill-at-fourth-of-july-celebration?author=Mary+Margaret+Olohan&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=15&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Trump+Will+Sign+One+Big%2C+Beautiful+Bill+At+Fourth+Of+July+Celebration">said</a> &#8220;President Trump delivered win after win for the American people, and House Republicans and Senate Republicans delivered these wins with the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill into law.”
Leif Le Mahieu contributed to this report.

President Trump

Trump Signs Big, Beautiful Bill At Historic July 4 Ceremony: ‘A Triumph Of Democracy’

Congress

Economy

Executive

Mike Johnson

Joey Chestnut, the world-famous hot dog eating champion, returns to the Nathan&#8217;s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition after taking a year off — and is expected to dominate once again.
Chestnut, who was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hot-dog-legend-joey-chestnut-signs-with-vegan-brand-gets-booted-from-july-4th-competition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">booted</a> from last year&#8217;s July 4 competition after taking a deal with fake meat company Impossible Foods, announced his return last month.
&#8220;I&#8217;m thrilled to be returning to the Nathan&#8217;s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,&#8221; Chestnut <a href="https://x.com/joeyjaws/status/1934612017052336469" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;This event means the world to me. It&#8217;s a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.&#8221;
Although Chestnut did not compete in Nathan&#8217;s 2024 competition, he still holds 55 world records for various eating competitions. According to <a href="https://majorleagueeating.com/eaters/106" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Major League Eating,</a> the moderating body behind the hot dog eating contest, Chestnut also holds records for eating 121 Twinkies in six minutes, 390 shrimp wontons in eight minutes, and, of course, 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
Chestnut has earned the &#8220;Mustard Belt&#8221; 16 times since 2008, the most anyone has ever won. He holds a strong lead over the competitor with the next highest number of wins, Takeru Kobayashi, who earned six belts before retiring due to health concerns.
Major League Eating <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hot-dog-legend-joey-chestnut-signs-with-vegan-brand-gets-booted-from-july-4th-competition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">banned</a> Chestnut from the Nathan&#8217;s Famous competition last year after he signed a deal with Impossible Foods, a Nathan&#8217;s competitor.
In a <a href="https://x.com/eatingcontest/status/1800607390636875792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1800607390636875792%7Ctwgr%5Ec0d98868a70172f80ffb323be440b5ea4f586a0d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fhot-dog-legend-joey-chestnut-signs-with-vegan-brand-gets-booted-from-july-4th-competition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> last year on X, the group said, &#8220;We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan&#8217;s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.&#8221;
During his hiatus from Nathan&#8217;s Famous competition, Chestnut set the <a href="https://x.com/joeyjaws/status/1916645992176173327" target="_blank" rel="noopener">record</a> for the most Buffalo Wild Wings eaten in one sitting, consuming 14.4 pounds of wings.
Patrick Bertoletti, who won last year&#8217;s competition with 58 hot dogs, has expressed his concern over Chestnut&#8217;s return. In an <a href="https://www.sportsbookreview.com/picks/more-sports/patrick-bertoletti-interview-nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest-2025/?utm_content=336287137&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;hss_channel=tw-174346152" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Sportsbook Review, Bertoletti said, “I want to do better so that I can silence [Chestnut].&#8221;
&#8220;My goal the whole time was to do better than last year, and that&#8217;s always been the case,&#8221; Bertoletti said. &#8220;If Joey&#8217;s not there, then I have a very good shot of winning if I do that. And now that Joey is going, it&#8217;s the same thing.&#8221;
Major League Eating celebrated his return to the Nathan&#8217;s Famous competition by <a href="https://x.com/eatingcontest/status/1940470661396259297" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a>, &#8220;He&#8217;s back. The legend. The GOAT. Joey Chestnut. Watch him dominate once again at the Nathan&#8217;s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. You don&#8217;t want to miss this.&#8221;
The winner of today&#8217;s competition will take home $10,000. The runner-up will receive $5,000, and third place wins $2,500.
Online prediction market Polymarket already has a few bets on the competition live. Fans have given Chestnut about a 90% chance of <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest-winner/will-joey-chestnut-win-the-2025-nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">winning</a>. They are also more divided on how many hot dogs Chestnut will eat, with most <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/will-the-76-hot-dog-record-be-broken-on-july-4-172" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doubting</a> he will beat his own record.

Joey Chestnut Visits “The Claman Countdown”

Joey Chestnut Returns To Coney Island, Expected To Dominate Hot Dog Eating Contest

Declaration of Independence

meat

As the United States prepares to celebrate her 249th birthday, a growing number of Americans say they’ve noticed a marked decline in patriotism.
More specifically, 44% of respondents in an <a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/5379913-44-percent-say-us-becoming-less-patriotic-survey/">Economist/YouGov survey</a> published this week said they believe the U.S. is becoming less patriotic. In comparison, a much smaller 14% said they think the nation is becoming more so.
Jesse Parks, a former U.S. Army Sergeant who served in Afghanistan, has noticed this shift in attitude.
“[Seeing] flags being burnt and seeing protests being more frequent,” Parks told the Daily Wire, “it tears down the country.”
Born into a military family, Parks said he was inspired to follow in the footsteps of those who came before him.
“All my uncles, dad, older brother, served. Everybody,” he said.
Parks initially applied to serve in the United States Marine Corps, but his application was rejected. Undeterred, he enlisted later in the United States Army, where he was accepted and rose through the ranks.
When asked why he enlisted, Parks said, “I think you join the military to fight for your country. It opens up a lot of doors, but in the end, you fight.”
He was deployed to Afghanistan in December 2010, where he said his unit’s primary mission was to train and advise the Afghan National Army Basic Training Command Teams, alongside the British and French Armies. He later became an infantry fire team leader.
Parks said that patriotism was a major factor in his decision to join the armed forces. He described it as “a love of your country put into action, whether that&#8217;s military, that&#8217;s political, or that&#8217;s civil service.”
But what is “patriotism” anyway?
“Patriotism” <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriotism">is often defined</a> as a “love for or devotion to one’s country.”
Yet, a growing number of Americans say they don’t see a shared sense of admiration for the country they call home. Lightning rod political issues ranging from abortion to illegal immigration, along with a major political realignment that has seen the Democratic Party lurch harder to the left and the Republican Party lurch harder to the right, have revealed a simmering disunity.
“[Patriotism is] a big part of what allows us to progress,” Parks said. “It is what kind of helps us progress as a society. We don&#8217;t all have to have the same views, but as long as we have patriotism, which is different than nationalism, as long as it&#8217;s there, it allows us to progress.”
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While Parks has an expressed love of country, his may not be a shared passion: only 67% of people claim to be extremely or very proud to be American, down from 91% in 2004, according to a 2024 <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/646655/american-pride-remains-near-record-low.aspx">Gallup</a> survey.
A separate <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/646655/american-pride-remains-near-record-low.aspx">Marist</a> poll likewise found a majority of Americans have noticed this shift, with 52% of respondents stating that the country seems less patriotic than it was just a few years ago.
The disunity and decline may feel all the more evident with the recent riots and attacks on first responders.
“[T]here has been a perversion of patriotism,” Parks told the Daily Wire.
“Groups like Antifa seem like they don&#8217;t care about this country and want to tear it down,” he said. “January 6 was similar; it was a movement to dismantle the country. It is seen on both sides.” 
Rather than being complicit in this division, Parks said, groups such as Antifa should “consider the opportunity they have in this time in history to affect the country’s direction, and to act accordingly in a constructive manner.”
Despite all of this, the Army veteran sees hope for the future.
“There is a lot of talk about division in the country at the moment, but I don’t think that is anything new,” Parks said. “I hope people will get involved over the issues they think are important.”
Participation “will increase their sense of pride and reignite a love for their country.”
* * *
Simon Olech is a reporter studying journalism at the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Hands holding American flag in a wheat field at sunset. Independence Day, 4th of July.

Americans Say Patriotism Is Fading. One Army Veteran Is Pushing Back With Steely-Eyed Optimism

interview

Opinion

U.S. Army

U.S. Military

United States

Let’s be real: most of us aren’t crossing the Delaware this 4th of July. We’re crossing the backyard in flip-flops to open the cooler. And that’s fine. That’s American, even. But while we’re manning the grill and dodging bottle rockets, we’d do well to remember: this day isn’t just about fireworks and flag-themed cupcakes. It’s about something far rarer — and far more worth preserving.
Because America didn’t just happen. It was made — and paid for.
Two hundred and forty-nine years ago, a bunch of men in powdered wigs looked at the most powerful empire on Earth and said, “Nah—we’re going to try something different. Hold my beer.” They didn’t tweet about tyranny. They fought it. They signed their names on a document that would’ve earned them a hangman’s rope had things gone south. And then they backed it up — starving, freezing, bleeding, and winning, so that one day you and I could argue over gas prices and post pics on Instagram.
They weren’t fighting for tax credits or better trade deals. They were fighting for the radical belief that our rights come from God, not government. And they risked everything for it.
We, by comparison, are just risking the brisket.
But maybe that’s the point. You don’t have to be Washington at Valley Forge to honor the Spirit of ’76. You just have to be intentional. You just have to remember.
Because the truth is, most Americans today couldn’t name five Founders. Some think the Revolutionary War was a Marvel spinoff. And every summer, like clockwork, the usual suspects try to reduce the Founding to a footnote in oppression — something to apologize for, not admire.
But the American Founding wasn’t a mistake. It was a miracle. Were the Founders flawed men? Sure. We all are. But the system they built — this Constitutional Republic grounded in natural rights and self-government — is still the greatest experiment in liberty the world has ever seen.
And it’s worth celebrating.
So, this Independence Day, take a minute — take five — to appreciate not just the fireworks, but the fire that lit the Revolution.
Maybe take some time to think about Jack Jouett. You’ve probably never heard his name. But when British troops were closing in on Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia Legislature, Jouett rode through the night, 40 miles on rough terrain, branches slashing his face, to warn them.
He didn’t do it for fame. He didn’t expect a reward. He was just a regular guy who refused to let tyranny win on his watch.
So too were the legions of cold, hungry, bleeding men in Washington’s army who crossed the icy Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776. They marched barefoot through the snow to launch a surprise attack on a Hessian outpost in Trenton. Some died before the battle even began. But the rest fought, and they won. And with that win, the Revolution roared back to life.
These weren’t abstract ideals on parchment. These were men, enduring literal hell so that future generations could taste Heaven’s gift: liberty.
And that gift has only survived this long because, in every generation, regular people stepped up to keep it alive.
That includes you.
John Adams said, “Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”
So, if you want to make good use of it, here’s your checklist for a meaningful 4th of July:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Read the Declaration of Independence with your kids. Yes, even if they roll their eyes. Especially if they roll their eyes.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Fly the flag. Not because it looks good on your porch, but because you know what it cost.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ask your kids what freedom means to them. Not a lecture — a conversation. They’re starving for meaning. Feed them something real.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Turn off TikTok. Read a chapter of the Federalist Papers. Or watch The Patriot instead of a reality show about people with fake names and real dysfunction.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Say grace. And thank God you live in a country where you can.</li>
</ul>
And if you’re Gen Z, no one expects you to recite the Constitution from memory. But maybe — just maybe — start asking questions. Read a book. Volunteer. Serve your neighbor. Build something with your hands. Log some service hours instead of screentime.
Because guess what? Next year is America’s 250th birthday. That’s not just a milestone. It’s a moment. A year from now, when the fireworks explode and the flags wave, don’t be the one just snapping selfies. Be the one who knows why it matters. Let this year be your warm-up lap. Spend the next 12 months loading the intellectual cannons. Read the Founding documents. Relearn the history. Equip yourself with truth.
Because if America is going to survive another 250 years, it won’t be because we got more “progressive.” It won’t be because of people like Barack Obama, who infamously said “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.”
No, if America is to survive, it will be thanks to people who fought to conserve who we are: a nation under God. A people forged in sacrifice. A Republic—if we can keep it.
You can’t defend a country you refuse to define. And you certainly can’t celebrate one you won’t even elevate.
So, fire up the Weber. Salute the flag. Tell your kids the truth. Thank the ones who served. And say a prayer for the country that lets you do all five without asking permission.
We don’t need more guilt. We need more gratitude.
We don’t need perfect people. We need present patriots.
And we don’t need another political lecture. We need more parents, more truth, more God, more America.
Now, hold my beer. The brisket is burning.
Gates Garcia is the host of the YouTube show and podcast We The People. Follow him on IG and X @GatesGarciaFL
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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